How to choose a nursery

Choosing a nursery is one of the first big decisions you make for your child, and it can feel overwhelming. The good news is that most of it comes down to a few practical questions, a careful read of what is published, and how a nursery feels when you walk in. This guide takes you through it in order.

1. Start with what your family needs

Before you look at a single nursery, write down the non-negotiables:

• Days and hours. Do you need a full working day, or would sessions of three or four hours do? Do you need care all year, or only in term time?
• Start date and age. Baby rooms (under 2) have the fewest places and the longest waiting lists.
• Location. Close to home, close to work, or on the way between? Picture a wet Monday morning.
• Budget. Work out roughly what you can afford each month after funded hours. Our childcare cost calculator does the arithmetic.
• Funded hours. Check which you are entitled to with the funded hours checker, then make sure the nurseries you look at offer them for your child’s age.

These rule many nurseries in or out before you think about anything else.

2. Shortlist on paper

Use our area pages to see every registered nursery near you, then narrow down using:

• Type of setting. A full-day nursery, a sessional pre-school, a school nursery or a childminder all work differently. Our guide to nursery vs childminder vs nanny and school nursery vs day nursery explain the trade-offs.
• The latest Ofsted inspection. Since November 2025 nurseries get report cards with a grade for each area and no single overall grade. Read the report, not only the headline. See Ofsted report cards explained.
• Published fees and what is included. Meals, nappies and trips can add a lot. Ask what is charged on funded hours. See extras and consumables charges.
• Approach. If an approach such as Montessori or forest school matters to you, read our types of nursery guides.

Aim for four to six names.

3. Phone or email first

A short call saves wasted visits. Ask whether they have a place for your child’s age on your start date, how the waiting list works, the day rate, and how funded hours are used. How quickly and clearly they reply is itself useful information.

4. Visit

Visit two or three nurseries, ideally on a normal weekday morning when the rooms are busy. Take our printable nursery visit checklist and ask the same questions everywhere so you can compare. Our guide to questions to ask on a nursery visit explains why each question matters.

Watch the children as much as the building. Are they busy and relaxed? Do staff get down to their level, talk to them warmly and know their names? Is the room calm or chaotic? Look at the outdoor space and how often children use it.

Also look out for the red flags parents most often mention afterwards.

5. Compare and decide

After the visits, put the nurseries side by side:

• Which one could you picture your child in?
• Which fits your days, journey and budget without strain?
• Where did staff answer questions openly, including the awkward ones about fees and staff turnover?
• Is there anything in the Ofsted report you still need answered?

It is normal for two nurseries to feel equally good. In that case, the practical things, journey time and flexibility, usually decide it.

6. Secure the place

When you accept a place, read the contract before paying a deposit. Check the notice period, what happens to fees when the nursery is closed or your child is ill, and how funded hours appear on the invoice. Our guide to deposits and registration fees explains what to look for, and the when to apply planner reminds you of the funding deadlines.

Finally, plan the start. Most nurseries offer settling-in sessions over a week or two before your first full day.